Chief Algorithm Officer.
Richmond.
$283,000
median salary, 1% above the national average
$212,000 to $369,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
A Chief Algorithm Officer in Richmond earns a median of $283,000 in 2026. That is 1% above the national average. The range runs from $212,000 to $369,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. This niche executive role commands premiums at companies where proprietary algorithms are core intellectual property.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $255,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$184,000
to $226,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$241,000
to $297,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$311,000
to $368,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$354,000
to $439,000
Salary trend
+5% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $198,000 to the total package.
Base
$283,000
Equity
$108,000
Bonus
$67,000
Signing
$23,000
Estimated total: $481,000
How Richmond compares
Richmond, VA
$283,000
Cost of living: 1% above average
National Average
$280,000
Richmond is $3,000 above
Chief Algorithm Officer salary by city
Salary by role in Richmond
What you should know
Here is what the Chief Algorithm Officer market actually looks like in Richmond. Richmond combines a strong government and defense sector with growing technology and financial services industries. Capital One's headquarters drives significant fintech employment. The city's proximity to Washington DC creates spillover demand for federal contractors and tech workers seeking lower living costs. This niche executive role commands premiums at companies where proprietary algorithms are core intellectual property. Compensation scales with the revenue directly attributable to algorithmic systems. Officers at quantitative trading firms, recommendation engine companies, and search platforms earn at the top of the range. Patent portfolios and published research strengthen negotiating positions by 10 to 20%.
Distinguished algorithm engineers or research directors earning $180,000 to $250,000 advance to this chief role at $210,000 to $365,000. Career paths lead to CTO at $280,000 to $400,000 or CEO of algorithm-driven companies. Some officers launch algorithmic hedge funds or optimization startups. In Richmond, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Total compensation reaches $500,000 to $1,000,000 with performance bonuses tied to algorithm performance metrics, equity grants, and in some cases profit-sharing on algorithmic trading returns. IP bonuses for patent filings are common at $10,000 to $25,000 per patent. And on the tax side: virginia's top income tax rate is 5.75%. Richmond has no city income tax. The moderate rate and reasonable cost of living create solid net compensation. When someone quotes you $283,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Leverage DC corridor salary benchmarks. Richmond employers compete with Northern Virginia and DC for talent, especially in fintech and government contracting. The range for Chief Algorithm Officers in Richmond runs from $212,000 to $369,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Chief Technology Officer in Richmond earns $284,000 (0% more)
- The highest-paying role in Richmond is Chief AI Officer at $316,000
Common questions.
Chief Algorithm Officer salary in other cities
Other salaries in Richmond
Related
Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
Want this data on your site? Embed the salary widget — one script tag, free forever.